new leopard gekko still wont eat!!

minions mummy :)

New Member
Messages
2
Location
maryport, cumbria, uk
hi, suppose i should start with a quick habitat description as that is what everyone seems to ask for first ;)
i have a 10gal tank with a heat pad covering over 1/3 of the base but not quite 1/2, the habistat is set to 30'c and the temp probe is on the floor on the warm side, the mat cuts in and out so it seems to work fine. she has a hide on the warm side and a hide on the cool side with a damp hide in the centre (half and half). she has a water dish, a food dish, a calcium dish and is on a slate flooring. i have had her around 4 days now and she has shed (and eaten it which i was pleased with) and seems to move from warm to cold when she likes. she is quite an active little girl and seems really friendly... when i put my hand in to change food/water etc she comes right up and doesnt flinch or run away!! my problem is that she hasnt eaten a single thing since we got her (besides her skin) she has 5 mealworms in a dish and so far we have put 2 crickets in there but at last check at least 1 of them is still running around (it's hard to tell because they seem to hide) she isnt even slightly interested, she will walk right by the food dish without so much as a glance and when a cricket happens to walk past her she follows it with her head but makes no attempt to hunt or eat it!!
i have read it is normal for her not to eat for a couple of days after moving to a new home but this is really beginning to worry me... can anyone help, or offer ideas etc i could try?
THANK YOU :)
 

minions mummy :)

New Member
Messages
2
Location
maryport, cumbria, uk
ok people, now on day number 5 and so far all she has eaten is her shed, possibly a couple of crickets (although this is still doubtfull) and one waxworm i literally dropped infront of her. i did the same thing with a mealworm and she did put her nose on it but then walked away, also mealworms are on offer in her dish but still no interest. this is getting past the "few days without eating to settle in" stage and is now frustrating and worrying me.
HOW CAN I GET HER TO EAT ON HER OWN???
any ideas gratefully considered :)
 

Samantha12

Member
Messages
134
Location
Michigan, USA
Some geckos take longer to get settled in a new home than others. One of my lizards didn't eat for almost 2 weeks after I got him, but he's a cow now. I know it isn't what you want to hear, but I think it's best if you give her a little privacy and try again in a couple days. Also, if she's a full grown leopard gecko she probably won't want to eat every day and might be full from her shed. Adults only need to eat a few times a week. So long as she has a plump tail and it doesn't shrink at all there's no need for alarm yet. Good luck!
 

acpart

Geck-cessories
Staff member
Messages
15,118
Location
Somerville, MA
I've also had geckos take a long time to start eating. As a matter of fact, I have a number of geckos that virtually don't eat all winter. Try to remember that they're not like mammals --they don't need to consume calories to keep themselves warm. Are there any droppings? Keep offering, put the new feeders in at night and keep the lights low. Keep us posted.

Aliza
 

Phoenix1115

New Member
Messages
932
Location
Connecticut
Yeah, I got my girl in January and she didn't start eating until May. And even now she only eats about one or two weeks out of the month. As long as it's not losing weight I wouldn't worry
 

GreatGeckos

New Member
Messages
370
Location
Southern California
Try putting about 15-20 mealworms in her dish. The movement may attract her and get her interested in food. I had a super giant go off feed for a month and not eat she was 99 grams and only went to 96 grams before she started eatting again. As long as they maintain good weight in the tail / body and don't have runny stools they should be okay. If you're really concerned and she's lossing weight , take her to a vet with a fecal sample or 2. Try to find a reptile specilist vet. I found one a few years ago at the same place we take our dogs. She does a reptile only Saturday :) good luck to you I'm sure she will start eatting soon
 

RUBYsoho

Member
Messages
93
Location
NYC
I agree with GreatGeckos on this one. Try putting 15-20 worms in her dish. The movement of this many worms will most likely catch her attention fairly quickly. My leopard gecko didn't eat the first few days after I got her, either. Like any other pet, leopard geckos take time to acclimate and get accustomed to a new environment. I suggest taping dark-colored paper to the back and sides of the tank, leaving only the front glass clear. This reduces stress, as the gecko won't see any movement going on around her home. Geckos don't really have good depth-perception, so anything going on around her tank may appear to her as a threat. I have cats and dogs, so I find this to be a huge stress-reducer. Let us know if she eats soon & good luck!

:)
 

Tucker

New Member
Messages
1
Location
Arizona
I need help as well, I am having the same problem. But I have had my Leopard Gecko for a little over a month. So my gecko has a glass tank that is fairly big, paper towels as the flooring, a few hide out places and stuff like that. I have a heat lamp and the temp usually gets to about 85. My leo seemed very healthy and he would eat almost every time I placed a mealworm in front of him. Usually the movement of the mealworm would catch his attention and he would strike and eat the meal worm. But lately he hasn't been the same. He eats crickets as well, but I usually just get him meal worms because they are more better for them. How can I get him to eat? PLEASE REPLY!
 

Emmy

New Member
Messages
1
Location
New Jersey
Bumping an old thread instead of staring a new one woop. I'm a new reptile parent, and I got my leo Bingo about a week and a half ago from +++++. I'm pretty sure that she is over a year old. She certainly looks over a year old, I've seen pictures of babies. For the almost 2 weeks I've had her, she has not eaten. I've offered her mealworms, waxworms, and crickets, with no interest. I've plopped one in front of her, and she'll look at it, but she won't eat. She has recently gone through a shed, which she has eaten. I've seen her have some water, and I have found a poop She is rather chubby (see picture), and seems healthy enough. She moves from the hot side to the cool side during the day, and doesn't seem to mind when I handle her (I've tried to avoid handling her too much though, as she's new). My question is, should I be worried that I have not seen her eat at all? Am I just being an over-concerned parent here? (I hope so!) Replies appreciated! C:

fat baby
10999250_10202807383140504_7558049337367348137_n.jpg
 

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